It's the Lions versus the Lions this week as local lads the Xerox Golden Lions take on the touring British and Irish Lions.

On stand-by

BOTH the Johannesburg metro police department and the emergency management services will be out in force on Wednesday evening for the big rugby match at Coca-Cola Park Stadium in Ellis Park.

The British and Irish Lions will play against the provincial Xerox Golden Lions as part of the Castle South Africa Lions Series. The game kicks off at 7.10pm.

According to the City's emergency management services spokesperson, Percy Morokane, both fire safety and disaster management officers will be in attendance at the stadium. The two fire stations which are in close proximity to the stadium – Johannesburg Central and Berea - will be on stand-by for any emergencies.

“We shall be closely monitoring the situation,” he says.

There will be no park and ride facilities for this event, on 3 June. Parking will be available around the precinct and at the stadium's new five-level car park, which can accommodate 1 200 cars.

Roads around the immediate perimeter of the stadium will be closed off, as is the norm with all rugby matches, according to Metro Police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar.

Plenty of tickets are still available, with the 62 000-seat stadium only half-full at the moment, confirms Ricky Meyer, the stadium's marketing manager. Stadium gates will open for the game at 3pm, so people can arrive early to get to their seats.

Ellis Park Stadium will see the clash of the Lions

Fans without parking tickets for inside the stadium will have to park in the Greater Doornfontein area, although there is still some parking available at Johannesburg Stadium. Tickets for this parking facility can be bought at the Ellis Park ticket office.

Although no curtain-raiser is scheduled, entertainment will kick off at 6pm with traditional dancing by Umoja. A number of artists will also perform, among them Idols finalists Daniel Baron and Lize Heerman.

Team members from the 1968 Transvaal provincial team - the only provincial team to beat a British Lions touring team ever - will also be parading before the game kicks off.

And in between, there will be competitions and giveaways, Meyer says.

As before, people are advised not to bring any glass bottles or containers into the stadium as these will be confiscated at the gates. The beer garden and food kiosks will be operating as normal.

Tickets cost R230 and can be bought from Computicket, on 083 915 8000 or 011 340 8000, or through the Computicket website or at the Coca-Cola Park ticket offices.